[jasonbvr]

Yes, the new school year will begin in April so any ALT companies without all their vacancies filled will be scrambling to do so in March. Technically they are not supposed to hire you before you get the work visa, but they will do just that at this point because it could take up to three months to get the visa. As far as training, ALT's do not receive any training before starting at our schools. We attend conferences throughout the year where we share ideas and troubles alike. If you still have that Three Wise Monkey's link in the document I wrote, that will be all you need to get through the first month or year for that matter.